Salter Improved Family Scale No. 50 Value Guide

The Salter Improved Family Scale No. 50 is a quintessential Victorian-era spring-balance scale manufactured in West Bromwich, England. It is highly collectible due to its iconic cast iron silhouette and its historical significance as a dominant household weighing machine across the British Empire from 1890 to 1910.

What Is Salter Improved Family Scale No. 50 Worth?

The typical price range for Salter Improved Family Scale No. 50 is $145 - $160 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The material of the scoop significantly impacts price, with original polished brass fetching higher values than tin alternatives.
• Condition of the enamel or painted dial face is critical, as clear, legible numbering maintains the $145-$160 value range.
• Mechanical accuracy of the spring balance and the presence of all original adjustment screws.
• The preservation of the original black finish on the cast iron body without excessive rust or modern repainting.

How to Identify Salter Improved Family Scale No. 50?

• Look for the 'Salter's Improved Family Scale No. 50' branding cast directly into the iron or printed on the circular dial face.
• Verify the presence of the original internal spring mechanism, which was the hallmark of Richard Salter's late 18th-century engineering legacy.
• Check for authentic Victorian-era materials including a heavy cast iron body paired with a brass or tin scoop.
• Examine the dial for the distinctive 'Made in England' or West Bromwich origin markings common to late 19th-century production.

History of Salter Improved Family Scale No. 50

Salter was founded in the late 18th century by Richard Salter in West Bromwich, England. By the 1890s, they dominated the market for household and commercial weighing machines. The No. 50 Family Scale became a staple in kitchens across the British Empire and America, prized for its durability and the accuracy of its internal spring mechanism.